THE VIEWS of Mid Sussex commuters are at the centre of Government thinking on rail transport policies, it was revealed today.

Their complaints and suggestions about services will be discussed by Transport Minister Dr John Reid at a crucial national rail summit this week.

Dr Reid is to present the findings of a survey conducted by Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames.

It asked commuters using Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath stations to give their verdict on train services.

The findings made grim reading for train operators Connex South Central and Thameslink, who were roundly criticised for poor standards.

The Mid Sussex report has already prompted Government action.

Dr Reid yesterday announced the introduction of undercover inspectors to catalogue the problems faced by everyday workers for themselves.

He made the announcement, on breakfast TV, only days after meeting Mr Soames to discuss the survey.

Dr Reid said the Government wanted to be the "passenger's champion" in ensuring that standards of rail operators improve.

He said: "I and the public have put them in the dock. That is where they deserve to be at the moment.

"But I am quite happy to help them out of the dock, if they'll work with me to get a better railway system than we have got at the moment."

"We want to look at a range of ways of making sure that the passenger is being put first. We want a better idea of what the passengers actually think."

He said that a good way of achieving this would be to have inspectors travelling on the networks and reporting to the Strategic Rail Authority.

He added that companies which were not performing had "no future in the industry".

Mr Soames said today the announcement was good news for beleaguered commuters.

He added: "Services have got to improve and customers must be treated better."

The national rail summit, which is to be hosted by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on Thursday, will give passengers the chance to voice their mounting dissatisfaction.

Train company chiefs, rail regulators and Railtrack bosses will be there.

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